Amber Heard Officially Files to Appeal Verdict in Johnny Depp Trial: 'We Believe the Court Made Errors'

Amber Heardhas filed to appeal the verdict in her defamation trial with ex-husbandJohnny Depp.

After making it known sheintended to appealthe Virginia verdict, Heard made it official Thursday morning when her lawyers filed a notice of appeal in the Circuit Court of Fairfax County.

“We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment. We are therefore appealing the verdict,” a spokesperson for Heard said in a statement. “While we realize today’s filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice.”

A rep for Depp did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

The development comes one week after Judge Penney Azcaratedenied Heard’s request for a mistrialover an issue involving one of the jurors seemingly not being the one from their household summoned for jury duty. The judge said no evidence of fraud was found among the jury and noted that Heard’s team had weeks to speak up about the error rather than wait until after an unfavorable verdict. Depp’s team hadresponded to the post-trial motionwith similar arguments before the judge’s ruling.

EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty

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When the judge made the verdict official late last month, she ruled that the damages will come with a 6 percent annual interest, and noted that if Heard were to appeal she would have to post a bond for the full amount of the damages she owes.

Johnny Depp (center).STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via Getty

In reaction to the verdict last month, Depp said in a statement he felt like the jury, made up of five men and two women, “gave me my life back.” Heard, meanwhile, called the verdict a “setback” for women and said, “I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband.”

She added at the time, “I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American — to speak freely and openly.”

Separately, Heard is in alegal battle with her insurance providerover who is liable for paying her court fees, and Deppreached a pre-trial settlementwith a crew member from one of his movies who accused him of assault, which he denied.

source: people.com